238 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



tendency to lose color, breeders often, as stated, select specimens 

 for one sex in the mating that are a little richer or stronger in 

 color than that described by the Standard. Breeders do not find 

 it advisable, however, to go too far in this direction. Faults and 

 tendencies to faults must be corrected, but not over-corrected. 

 The latter is as liable to occur as is the former. 



To Maintain Evenness, Many faults of the progeny in color 

 are attributed to too wide a variation in color of the parents. 

 Specimens of extremes of buff color mated together seldom pro- 

 duce a mean. The progeny are mostly extremes and seldom are 

 they sound, even colored specimens at that ; patches of dark and 

 light buff are often found on the same specimens. Mealiness and 

 light or dark edgings are attributed to the mating of extremes 

 in buff shades. Shaftings in the plumage of one or both sexes 

 in the mating is due to weak undercolor of the quill. By reading 

 the preceding chapter, the undesirability of these characteristics 

 will be clearly understood. 



Black in Tails and Wings. Other expediencies are occasion- 

 ally resorted to to be hold to the desired shade of color. The 

 impression that the strength of color may be preserved by breed- 

 ing males or females that show black in tail and perhaps in 

 wings has been a common one. On this point, one writer 1 takes 

 the view that buff is largely yellow modified slightly by red and 

 white, and that black is nowise a component of buff ; that in 

 choosing one of two evils, black or white, the latter is to be 

 chosen without hesitation. Among the faults caused by breeding 

 from specimens that show black are lacing or ticking in necks, 

 black in tails, black in wings, smutty undercolor and a muddy 

 surface color, and it will not counteract white, according to this 

 writer, who further states "you will get plenty of red and white 

 without breeding for them," but that either red or white are 

 much more readily bred out than black. In closing, this breeder 

 gives this advise : "Remember, yellow and black will not mix 

 and produce a pleasing color, while yellow, red and white will 

 mix and give you that beautiful shade called buff." This view 

 has since been taken by other writers of experience in breeding 

 buff varieties. 2 



1. W. W. Browning, book, R. P. J., The Wyandotte. 



2. M. F. Delano, The Orpington, R. P. J. A. O. Schilling, A. P. W. 

 for January, 1913. 



